HOVER CHURCH

HOVER CHURCH, HOVER, DENMARK

The church is originally a Romanesque village church built around 1250. In the late Middle Ages, a tower was added to the western end of the nave, which was later reduced in height to match the nave. The church is constructed of natural stone, with the western side of the nave's northern wall built in monk bricks. The interior of the church was significantly renovated in 1954–1955, during which the nave's ceiling received a highly distinctive and unconventional decoration by artist Mogens Jørgensen.

The decoration, characterized by bold blue and yellow colors, consists of a series of rectangular panels with geometric patterns and is considered one of the earliest examples of abstract art in Danish churches. However, the lighting solution provided by Okholm Lighting is not for the interior, but for the exterior surroundings of the church and the churchyard.

The outdoor lighting consists of Schelenborg Mast Lanterns and Schelenborg Wall Lights, originally designed for Schelenborg Manor by ERIK Architects. The Schelenborg Mast Lantern, based on the Schelenborg Wall Light with an arm, illuminates the path system leading up to the church, while the immediate area is lit by the Schelenborg Wall Lights.

The classic design in copper and clear glass creates a unique atmosphere in the outdoor area, blending perfectly with the rustic and simple architecture of the church. The light sources are clear and unshielded, providing 360° circular illumination, which integrates vegetation and graves into the overall lighting design. The wall lights provide 180° illumination of the area in front of the church. While the church interior features abstract decoration, the outdoor areas have been fitted with historically classical lighting, perfectly complementing the church's robust and simple architecture.